The Seven Season Arcs of DS9

[Plomeek Broth]

I am currently only five episodes into season one of my 2nd ever rewatch of the entire DS9 series. It was many years ago too when I first watched it. Can you hardcore Niners break down the main story arcs of each individual season so I can remember what I have to look forward to? You can even think of a creative name or funny title for each season's primary story arc. Any help would be greatly appreciated in basically outlining the plots of each individual season.

 

[Navaros]

IMO you are asking for something that doesn't exactly exist for most of the Seasons.

Season 1: No season-wide arc. Although, lots of whining by Bajorans (may be considered an arc by some?).

Season 2: No season-wide arc, but the first rumblings about and encounter with the Dominion. Also lots of whining by Bajorans (may be considered an arc by some?)

Season 3: No season-wide arc, but escalated rumblings and encounters with the Dominion.

Season 4: Klingon War arc.

Season 5: Tensions regarding the Dominion escalate further and begin to boil over.

Season 6: Dominion/Federation is in full-scale war.

Season 7: Full-scale war continues.

Having said that, although the earlier seasons have no season-wide arcs, the episodes within them contain character and situational development that carries over throughout the series.

DS9 is sort of an odd animal in regard to how it is both non-arced and quasi-arced at the same time.

 

[happydave]

There's also a few arcs which run the entire series or a few seasons.

1-3: Sisko & Jake settle into DS9 & Bajor as their home
1-4: Beginning of Miles/Julian's friendship
1-7: Sisko as the Emmissary & his relation to the Bajorians

as well as a bunch of smaller arcs involving Garak, Gul Dukat, Odo's search for his people, Kira gaining maturity etc.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Season 6: Dominion/Federation is in full-scale war.

Season 7: Full-scale war continues.

Fortunately there's plenty of time to do some hilarious Ferengi episodes!

 

[JoeD80]

IMO you are asking for something that doesn't exactly exist for most of the Seasons.

Yeah, not really whole season arcs, but there are plenty of character arcs (like O'Brien/Bashir; Garak; Odo/Kira). DS9 liked to vary the mix a lot. Go from Dominion to Klingon to something funny and back again. That's why we get Vulcan baseball in season 7 (one of my favorites).

 

[Plomeek Broth]

Another referred to Season 7 as the Lord of the Rings season LOL. I liked Season 7!

 

[Captain Fine]

Another referred to Season 7 as the Lord of the Rings season LOL. I liked Season 7!

How is s. 7 like LOTR? I recently rewatched a good portion of the season (ok, the beginning and the end, I skipped the middle) but how so?

 

[CDP]

S2-5 Maquis arc

 

[flemm]

How is s. 7 like LOTR? I recently rewatched a good portion of the season (ok, the beginning and the end, I skipped the middle) but how so?

I've never thought if it in this way, but my guess is it would be due to the double plot of the large-scale conflict on the one hand, and the struggle between the Pagh-wraiths and the prophets on the other (the main similarity here being the final confrontation in the fire caves).

I don't think that it is a very fruitful comparison other than to note that season 7 reaches an epic scale that is comparable to the LotR (which is quite a compliment) and that the final Dukat/Sisko confrontation is probably more or less unconsciously inspired by the final confrontation on Mount Doom.